Dobson gains confidence before Islanders training camp at Summer Showcase

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia -- Noah Dobson had made a fan of Canada coach Tim Hunter before the World Junior Summer Showcase this week at Sandman Centre.

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Dobson, an 18-year-old defenseman selected by the New York Islanders with the No. 12 pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, scored two goals in Canada's 4-3 win against Finland on Thursday and has three goals in his first two games.
"I was confident the way I ended my season," Dobson said. "I've had good training so far in the summer. I felt good coming into camp. I felt like my offensive game has really grown over the last year. Feel I've had the opportunity to create offense but also be reliable defensively as well."
Hunter, who coaches Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League, made the 45-mile drive to Regina to watch Dobson with Acadie-Bathurst during the 2018 Memorial Cup, when Dobson tied for the scoring lead among defensemen with seven points (two goals, five assists) in four games and was named to the tournament all-star team.
"He comes as advertised, for sure," Hunter said. "He's a poised hockey player and he's a leader back there. He's a leader among these guys as a [player born in 2000], and that's a great quality for a young man. He's ahead of his time, real mature kid. And he's playing like it out there. He's not playing like a 2000."
Dobson (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) said he's worked during the offseason on getting stronger to battle with bigger NHL forwards and to add explosiveness to his skating.
He is getting a confidence boost from succeeding against some of the best players in the world at his age at WJSS.
"Confidence is a big thing, especially when you're going into a different environment, an NHL environment," he said. "Having a little bit more confidence knowing you performed well at the World Junior camp definitely will boost me a bit. At the end of the day, when you get there, it's a whole different game, playing against older guys, playing against men. You try to compete hard and try to fit in."

Luukkonen chooses Sudbury

Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will play with Sudbury in the Ontario Hockey League this season.
Luukkonen, who was selected by Sudbury with the No. 3 pick of the 2018 Canadian Hockey League import draft, had been deciding between the OHL and remaining with HPK in Liiga, Finland's top professional league.
"We made the decision with the Sabres and HPK back in Finland that it's best for me to go to Sudbury and play there, get a lot of games," Luukkonen said.
Luukkonen said one factor in the decision was to get a full season of experience on North American-size ice.
"It's a big thing for me to get there, my first full season," he said. "There is a lot of time to see what I need to improve on with the smaller ice."

Robertson's time with Roberts paying off

Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars) has been training this offseason with former NHL player Gary Roberts in Aurora, Ontario.
"[The Stars] thought it would be a good step for me to finally train with pro guys," the 19-year-old forward prospect said. "I've been living in California and training on my own, but coming into that atmosphere, eat right, the nutrition … Gary Roberts has been a phenomenal investment for us."
Robertson usually works out with players his own age but occasionally gets into the gym and on the ice with NHL players, among them Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid.
"I think you're just learning off how they work," said Robertson, who has three points (two goals, one assist) in four games for the United States at the WJSS. "At their age and where they are, they know it's a job and a profession. I'm a junior player trying to get there. The more I can act more professional and learn from them, the better."
Robertson (6-2, 192) had 87 points (41 goals, 46 assists) in 68 games with Kingston of the OHL last season, but he wants to be stronger to become even more of an offensive force.
"I think I've been a lot more physical on pucks, using my frame," he said. "I'm 6-2 and I need to start using my frame more often. Just be stronger on pucks and on the forecheck, being more confident with my body in protecting (the puck) and passing."
Stars senior adviser to the general manager Les Jackson said the gains from Robertson's offseason work have been obvious.
"His offensive game has always been there," Jackson said. "Now it's the natural physical growth he's gone through. He's changed his whole nutrition and the way he's training. You can see it. He's really coming on."

Kakko day to day for Finland

Kaapo Kakko, a top forward prospect for the 2019 NHL Draft, didn't play against the U.S. on Friday because of a lower-body injury sustained in the first period against Canada on Thursday.
Finland coach Jussi Ahokas said he's hopeful Kakko can play against Sweden on Saturday.
Kakko, 17, played three games at right wing on Finland's top line, with center Rasmus Kupari (Los Angeles Kings) and left wing Aarne Talvitie (New Jersey Devils).
Ahokas said he's been impressed by how Kakko (6-2, 194) has handled himself against older competition.
"The work habits are really good," he said. "Great kid, wants to learn. His puck skills, how he holds on to the puck in the offensive zone, has been really good. For me, the most important thing has been the way he works and how he commits to the game and how he wants to improve the whole time."

Flyers lead with eight prospects at WJSS

The Philadelphia Flyers have an NHL-high eight players at the WJSS.
"It's a little bit of the fruits of the labor over the last few years," said assistant general manager Chris Pryor, who oversees Philadelphia's amateur scouting department. "Tells you a little bit about the job our scouts have done. I think they work extremely hard. ... It shows you that there's things going in the right direction."
At the camp are U.S. forwards Joel Farabee, Jay O'Brien and Noah Cates, Canada forwards Morgan Frost and Isaac Ratcliffe, and goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Adam Ginning and forward Olle Lycksell from Sweden.
Farabee is tied for the U.S. lead with two goals in four games, and Lycksell has two points (one goal, one assist) in three games for Sweden.
Pryor said he's happy for the emotional boost being picked for the camp provides the players.
"It's nice to get recognized," he said. "You're obviously doing something right. And you always like to see how you perform with your peers."